Concentrations

Become a Mason Graduate Student

All applicants for graduate study at George Mason University must meet the admission standards specified in the Admissionchapter of the University Catalog.

CHSS Graduate Admissions is self-managed. You are responsible for submitting all required application materials by the posted deadline. Review your program's Admissions Requirements and Deadlines before you begin your application. You can also visit our Grad Admissions FAQs page for helpful hints on how best to prepare your transcripts and other Admissions materials.

Step 2: Upon submission and payment of the online application, you will receive an email confirming application submission and instructions for uploading any supplementary materials required to complete the admission process. You will also be assigned a Mason identification number—called a G number—that will be key to all University communications. You can find this number through your self-service center.

Step 3: Check your application status. You can use your application log-in and password to access your information throughout the application process. Graduate Admissions may send updates or notify you of issues with your application through your self-service center, so it is best to log in periodically to stay on top of your application.

Step 4: For newly admitted students, refer to the CHSS New Graduate Student webpage for tips on confirming enrollment, submitting official transcripts, registering for class and more.

Program Specific Requirements

College Transcripts

Goals Statement

GRE

Portfolio

Recommendation Letters

Resume

Writing Sample

2

Additional Information

Applicants to the MA program in PHIL, including all concentrations, must have completed certain undergraduate preparation coursework with grades of B or higher in each course.

For the MA with Traditional and Contemporary Philosophy focus, these courses are:

An applicant with a baccalaureate degree who has not met all admission requirements may, at the discretion of the department, be offered provisional admission if sufficient evidence is presented to suggest the applicant has the ability to pursue graduate work.

Under an offer of provisional admission, the preparation coursework must be completed by the time the student has completed 12 credits of MA coursework; and the preparation coursework must be completed with a grade of B or higher in each course. If the student does not complete the preparation coursework with grades of B or higher in each course within the time of completion of the first 12 credits of graduate study, the student will be terminated from the program. For more information on provisional admission please refer to Graduate Admission Policies.

The submitted writing sample should be 1500-2500 words in length. It must show evidence of the applicant's ability at analysis, reasoning, and argument. If possible, it should engage with philosophical texts. A paper that shows ability to conduct research and to engage critically and constructively with primary and secondary sources is a plus.

Application Deadlines

Fall Deadline: March 01

Spring Deadline: November 01

All applicants are strongly advised to submit applications and all supporting documents by the program's posted deadline date.

Additional Requirements for

International Applicants

Students applying for graduate study must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education, which is verified from official transcripts, by the time they enroll at Mason. They should also have earned a GPA equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4-point scale.

Unofficial documents may be considered for admissions purposes only. Applicants may upload copies of their transcript with their application. Transcript must include a version in the original language as well as in English, and should contain a copy of the graduation certificate/diploma to verify the conferral date. Transcript evaluations can be made from unofficial documents.

For student who prefer to submit official transcripts instead, they can be mailed directly to:

*Note: For admitted students needing an F-1 or J-1 visa, the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Office of International Services and Programs must have an official transcript on file before visa paperwork can be completed. These can be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions after receipt of a decision of admission to the above address.

Transcript Evaluations

A transcript evaluation is also required for all international transcripts. Evaluations must be completed by an accredited agency approved by NACES or AACRAO, or you may submit your transcript for evaluation by George Mason’s International Credential Evaluation office. If you choose to use Mason’s service, please expect 6-8 weeks for processing.

Proof of English Proficiency

Students who were educated outside of the US, Canada (excluding Quebec), UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand must submit qualifying TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson Test of English exam results. All examinations require advance registration and it could take several weeks to receive your results. It is important to register for these examinations early.

*Note: For admitted students needing an F-1 or J-1 visa, the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Office of International Services and Programs must have an official transcript on file before visa paperwork can be completed. These can be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions after receipt of an admitted decision to the above address.

Non-Degree Admissions

You have the option to take graduate courses in non-degree status. To apply, you must complete an online application for your intended start term and include transcripts as well as a resume. You will also be required to indicate on the application which courses you plan to take for approval during the application review process. Credits earned in non-degree status may potentially transfer to a degree program at a later date so long as it meets the program requirements and the program director approves the transfer. For information on transfer credit policies, please refer to the University Catalog.

Non-Degree Requirements

College Transcripts

Goals Statement

GRE

Portfolio

Recommendation Letters

Resume

Writing Sample

Application deadlines for graduate non-degree coursework differ from program deadlines. For additional information on the non-degree application process and deadlines please refer to Applying for Non-Degree Graduate Study.